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Originally the Boston Americans, founded in 1901, the Red Sox won the first World Series in 1903. Playing its games from 1912 to the present at tiny and quirky Fenway Park, with its 37-foot high wall in left field called "The Green Monster" and other unique features, the Red Sox are woven deeply into the fabric of New England, the capital of a fandom referred to as "Red Sox Nation," because of its widespread reach. From 1978-2003, the Red Sox's decades-long inability to win the World Series -- often at the hands of the New York Yankees, often in improbable and heartbreaking ways -- became the primary identity of the franchise, summed up as "The Curse of the Bambino," a reference to the sale of Babe Ruth to the New York club. But the fortunes of the franchise changed in stunning fashion in 2004. Again facing the Yankees in the ALCS, the Red Sox lost the first three games, losing Game 3 at Fenway 19-8. But in the ninth inning of Game 4, Dave Roberts stole second base off closer Mariano Rivera, then scored the tying run. David Ortiz got the first of two straight walk-off hits in the 12th inning with a two-run homer. He repeated the feat later that same day in Game 5 with a single in the 14th inning. In Game 6, Curt Schilling pitched with a sutured right ankle, blood oozing through his sock, but earned the victory, forcing a Game 7 that the Red Sox won easily. It was the first time in baseball history a team won a series after trailing 0-3. The Red Sox then swept St. Louis in the World Series, its first title in 86 years. The Red Sox would win again in 2007, recovering from a 3-1 deficit to Cleveland in the ALCS, then sweeping Colorado for the title.

Related "Boston Red Sox" Articles

MESA, Ariz. — General manager Doug Melvin was a curious World Series observer despite a shocking tumble that eliminated his Brewers from playoff contention.
But Melvin's farm system could take credit for the development of speedy center fielder Lorenzo...

MESA, Ariz. — Arismendy Alcantara didn't play the outfield until about one month before he was promoted to the Cubs in July.
That may have been a solid career move for Alcantara, especially with Joe Maddon as the Cubs' new manager.
Alcantara's...

MESA, Ariz. — One of Cubs manager Joe Maddon's toughest decisions could be how often to rest catcher Miguel Montero.
Montero, 31, has played in at least 136 games in three of the last four seasons. But the Cubs also added David Ross, who has a strong...

MESA, Ariz. -- Sammy Sosa’s arrival at Cubs’ camp back in the day was always a media event.
"Did you miss me?" was Sosa's annual catchphrase.
Sosa has been gone from the Cubs for a decade now, but now there are rumblings the cold war between...

MESA, Ariz. — Manager Joe Maddon expounded on using relievers in various situations to maximize their strengths.
But the only firm role appears that of closer Hector Rondon.
"He did close last year, didn't he?'' Maddon replied Saturday. "I...

MESA, Ariz. — None of Manny Ramirez’s 555 career home runs was hit as a member of the Cubs, who nevertheless rehired him as a hitting consultant despite his past association with performance-enhancing drugs.
Moreover, President Theo Epstein said he would...

MESA, Ariz. — Jon Lester changed leagues, uniform colors and spring training venues.
But the confidence Lester developed over nine seasons with the Red Sox remains strong as he seeks to help the Cubs win a World Series for the first time in 107 seasons....

Baseball, being the noblest sport, has many lessons to teach: the value of daily persistence, the inevitability of failure and the likelihood that luck will not override ineptitude (looking at you, Cubs). But, as a creation of humans, it is also prey to...

Despite having an improved roster for 2015, there are many questions confronting the Cubs in spring training. Here are nine:
When are the trades? Even though a late offseason flirtation with free agent James Shields fell through, the Cubs could deal...

Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein has hired one of the key players of his successive run with the Boston Red Sox.
Infielder Kevin Youkilis, who played a major role in the Red Sox’s 2004 and 2007 World Series titles, was hired by the Cubs as a special...

MESA, Ariz. — Jake Arrieta played long toss from a distance of about 160 feet — a sign that he won't be placed on any limits one year after missing the first month of the 2014 season because of shoulder stiffness.
"I think in the transition to...

MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs begin preparation for the 2015 season Friday, but they also hope to begin to a lay a foundation for long-term success when they conduct their first workout for pitchers and catchers under new manager Joe Maddon.
With the core of...

Former Cubs coach Wendell Kim died Sunday near his home in suburban Phoenix after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 64.
Kim's widow, Natasha, confirmed her husband's death on Monday.
Kim was a major league coach for 15 seasons with four...

Manager Joe Maddon was happy to learn his spring training roster will consist of 60 players.
He deems it a manageable number that will allow him and a retooled coaching staff ample time to distinguish those likely to make the opening-day roster and those...

Andy Warhol would have loved this winter.
In only 3-1/2 months, every major league team seemed to have its own 15 minutes of fame, from the usual suspects to the perennial wannabes.
The Blue Jays and A's started it with a blockbuster trade, the Red...

For years, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts has made no secret of his desire to emulate the success of the Boston Red Sox.
His pursuit of Boston's top baseball executive, Theo Epstein, made headlines and the remaking of Wrigley Field — inspired by the

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell were placed in the crosshairs Super Bowl Sunday for their decision to pass on second-and-goal from a yard out of the end zone. Russell Wilson's pass was intercepted,...

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Pedro Martinez's Hall of Fame plaque will have the cap of the Boston Red Sox and John Smoltz's will have the Atlanta Braves.
The Hall of Fame made the announcement Thursday. It said last week that Randy Johnson's will have the cap of...

The overwhelming optimism during this weekend's Cubs Convention overshadowed the work by Cubs executives on potential moves that might not pay off until later this season — at the earliest.
The Cubs are convinced that the control issues of...